Best Company Secretary Malaysia 2026: How to Compare Providers
A company secretary is a statutory role for a Malaysian Sdn Bhd, but providers package the service very differently. The cheapest advertised monthly retainer is not necessarily the cheapest annual option once annual returns, financial-statement filing, beneficial ownership work, resolutions and company changes are added.
For a simple company that values bundled mandatory compliance and transparent pricing, Foundingbird's Compliance Only is a strong benchmark. If you want a lower entry retainer and prefer choosing how much filing/support is bundled, Altomate is worth comparing. For either provider, calculate your expected total annual cost, not just the headline monthly fee.
Foundingbird vs Altomate at a glance
| Area | Foundingbird | Altomate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry company-secretary plan | RM99/month, RM1,188/year excl. SST | RM40/month, RM518.40/year incl. SST on Basic |
| Registered office | Included | Included |
| Annual return | Included in Compliance Only | Not included in Basic; included from Essential |
| Financial-statement filing | Included in Compliance Only | Not included in Basic; included from Essential |
| Beneficial ownership reporting | Included in Compliance Only | Check current plan/fee |
| Digital document access | 24/7 client portal | Company dashboard |
| Company changes | Ad-hoc on Compliance Only; many ordinary changes included in Complete Coverage | Depends on plan and request |
Pricing and inclusions were reviewed in August 2026 from providers' published pages. Always verify the latest terms directly before appointing a provider.
1. Foundingbird — strong for bundled compliance and transparent fees
Foundingbird currently publishes two company-secretary packages. Its Compliance Only plan is RM99 per month, paid RM1,188 annually excluding SST. It lists an SSM-licensed secretary, registered office, beneficial ownership reporting, annual return filing, financial-statement filing, financial-year-end setup, auditor/tax-agent appointment, reminders and online document access as included.
Its Complete Coverage plan is RM165 per month / RM1,980 annually excluding SST and adds ordinary company changes such as director changes, paid-up-capital increases, selected share allotments, additional bank accounts and business-address changes.
Best fit: founders who want a digital workflow and prefer mandatory compliance costs to be bundled rather than paying a very low retainer plus separate filing fees.
Check Foundingbird's current plans
2. Altomate — low entry price with tiered service levels
Altomate's published January 2026 pricing lists three company-secretary tiers. Basic is RM40 per month billed annually (RM518.40 including SST), Essential is RM100 per month (RM1,296 including SST), and PRO is RM180 per month (RM2,332.80 including SST).
The Basic plan includes the licensed secretary retainer, registered office, dashboard and filing reminders, but its published table does not include annual-return or financial-statement filing. Those are included from the Essential tier. This is exactly why headline monthly fees can be misleading.
Best fit: companies that want a low base retainer and are comfortable choosing a higher tier or paying separately depending on their filing and support needs.
Check Altomate's current pricing
Do not compare company secretaries by monthly fee alone
Before appointing any provider, ask for a written estimate covering a normal year for your company. A RM40/month secretary can cost more than a RM99/month package if mandatory filings and routine changes are charged separately.
| Ask about | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Licensed company secretary | Confirm the statutory appointment itself is included. |
| Registered office | May be bundled or separately charged. |
| Annual return | Ask whether preparation, submission and SSM fee are included. |
| Financial-statement filing | Often a separate annual line item. |
| Beneficial ownership reporting | Confirm routine and change-related filings. |
| Director/shareholder changes | Common source of ad-hoc fees. |
| Share allotment/transfer | Can be materially more expensive than basic resolutions. |
| Bank resolutions / certified copies | Frequently needed by operating companies. |
| Response time and document access | Important when banks, auditors or investors need documents quickly. |
| Switching/termination | Check handover process, notice and any exit fee. |
Which type of company secretary should you choose?
Dormant or very low-activity company
Prioritise a low predictable annual cost that still covers the mandatory work. A bundled compliance plan can be easier to budget even if the headline retainer is not the lowest.
Normal operating SME
Expect occasional bank resolutions, address changes, director matters or certified documents. Compare the base plan plus two or three realistic ad-hoc requests rather than assuming nothing will change.
Startup raising money or changing shareholders
Look closely at share allotments, transfers, cap-table support, resolutions, turnaround time and access to statutory documents. A more inclusive plan can make sense when corporate changes are frequent.
Foreign founder
Ask whether the provider supports your ownership/director structure, remote e-KYC, registered-office needs and any resident-director requirements. Do not assume a Malaysian-owned-company price applies to every structure.
Our selection rule
Send the same scenario to every shortlisted provider: “One Sdn Bhd, two directors, two shareholders, annual return, financial-statement filing, beneficial ownership compliance, one bank resolution and one director/address change.” Ask for the expected first-year and recurring annual cost. That produces a much more useful comparison than “RM40 vs RM99 per month”.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a company secretary cost in Malaysia?
The advertised retainer can range from roughly RM40 per month to RM100 or more, but the real annual cost depends on whether annual return filing, financial-statement filing, beneficial ownership work, registered office and company changes are included.
Can I change my company secretary?
Yes. Companies can switch providers, but the handover and appointment/resignation process must be handled correctly. Ask the new provider what switching support and fees are included.
Should I choose the cheapest company secretary?
Not from the monthly retainer alone. Compare the total annual cost for mandatory compliance plus the corporate changes your company is likely to make.
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Important
This guide is general educational information. Prices, inclusions and regulatory requirements can change. Confirm current information with the provider and relevant Malaysian authority before making a decision.
Last reviewed: August 2026.